Jackson Holliday took the field at second base for the Baltimore Orioles today, batting sixth in the lineup. His appearance comes as the team faces ongoing performance questions surrounding the highly-touted prospect.
Holliday was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 MLB draft, arriving with significant expectations. He advanced quickly through the minor leagues, making his major league debut in 2024.
His initial stint in the majors proved difficult. He struggled at the plate and was sent back to the minors after a brief period. Holliday finished the 2024 season with a .189 batting average over 60 games, striking out 69 times.
Entering the 2025 season, Holliday returned to the Orioles roster. His performance has shown some improvement, currently sitting with a .237 average. However, he has still struck out 21 times through his first 24 games this year.
Despite his presence, the Orioles are currently in last place in the AL East. While they remain within a few games of first place, their standing is below preseason expectations.
The team recently concluded a series where they fell 15-3 to the Yankees. The Orioles pitching staff gave up six home runs in the game, including three in the first inning against pitcher Kyle Gibson, who the team signed a contract with in March.
Other players in the Orioles lineup for the recent game against the New York Yankees included Cedric Mullins, Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Ryan O鈥橦earn, Ram贸n Laureano, Ryan Mountcastle, Heston Kjerstad, and Ram贸n Ur铆as. Cade Povich started on the mound for the Orioles.
While Jackson Holliday has made adjustments and shown some progress at the plate, his current level of production is not yet matching the high standards associated with a No. 1 overall selection, or the offensive output needed by the Orioles as they work to improve their position in the standings.
